Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Single Finger
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After being seen once, he seemed to have no qualms about appearing before me.
Mesis walked over to the swing and glanced around, as if he found it fascinating.
"Did you deliver the lettews?"
"Ah, that. Of course. They all loved them."
"Really?"
"Yes. They've all submitted their letters of apology, too. It's all thanks to your encouragement, Young Lady."
It was a relief to hear they had all submitted their letters.
Does this mean I can meet them now?
As Mesis spoke, the corners of his mouth twitched as if he'd just remembered something.
I looked at him quizzically, and he gave me a bright smile.
"It was quite a sight to behold. Thank you. I got to see something like that all thanks to you, Young Lady."
"What did you see?"
"You should ask them yourself later. What they did."
I was curious, but I just nodded for now.
Right now, riding the swing was more important.
I sat down on the swing and gripped the ropes tightly with both hands.
"Mesis, push Aileen."
"Hm?"
"I have to move my feet back and fowth, but it's hawd."
I dangled my legs, pretending it was difficult, and Mesis, who had been standing a short distance away, came closer.
"How hard should I push?"
"Um. Gently!"
"Gently? ...It's not a difficult request, so why does it feel so hard?"
Mesis muttered.
Despite readily agreeing to my request, he seemed to be pondering for a moment.
He looked like he was contemplating just how gently he should push.
I faced forward, waiting eagerly for him to push.
Soon, the swing began to move slowly.
At a moderately fast speed, I vigorously kicked my legs back and forth.
"Whoa!"
The cool wind rustled through my hair.
Every time I got closer to the sky, I cheered, and I could hear Mesis chuckle softly behind me.
"Higher!"
"Pardon?"
"Just a little highew!"
I shouted, full of excitement. I felt it would be fine to go just a little higher.
I also had a feeling that if anything happened, Mesis would be there to save me right away.
Just a little longer, then I have to go do my homework.
The swing, having soared high into the sky, came swooping back down. As I stretched my legs out, I felt a poke on my back.
"Huh?"
I tilted my head.
What was that?
It felt quite different from Mesis's push.
Unlike his leisurely, slow pushes, this one felt extremely cautious.
"Mesis?"
"Yes."
I called his name questioningly, but the voice that should have come from behind me came from right beside me instead.
Startled, I looked to the side.
Mesis was leaning against the tree the swing was tied to, watching with a look of great amusement.
Then who's pushing the swing right now?
Seeing my confusion, Mesis laughed out loud.
"Paymon. You've been caught, so stop now. The Young Lady is surprised."
"...Ah."
A strange voice, full of disappointment, came from behind me.
The hand that had been pushing the swing so carefully disappeared.
Paymon?
It was a name I'd never heard before. I immediately realized he must be one of my guards.
When did they switch places?
I waited impatiently for the swing to stop.
"I received your letter, Lady Aileen."
It was a very friendly voice, filled with warmth.
"You saw the lettew Aileen gave you?"
"Of course. I was struggling a bit, not knowing how to write the letter of apology. But your letter gave me strength, so I was able to come see you sooner."
"How did you write the lettew of apology?"
"I thought I just had to reflect a bit, get my revenge, and then come back."
What a novel take on a letter of apology.
So that's why it took so many days to submit them.
I'd been wondering why it was taking so long, and now the mystery was finally solved.
Once the swing came to a complete stop, I hopped off. Then I turned around to see Paymon.
My eyes met with a pair of green eyes, an enigmatic shade, set beneath a mane of dark brown hair.
"Wow. I can finally greet you properly."
"You're Paymon?"
"Yes."
I glanced down and saw his finger held out awkwardly in mid-air.
I stared blankly, not understanding why he was holding his finger out like that, and Paymon laughed shyly.
"Ah, well. I heard I had to push gently, but I wasn't sure how to control my strength."
"So?"
"It seemed like one finger was just right."
So that poking feeling from earlier must have been his finger.
...He sent me soaring high into the sky with just one finger.
And I felt like I went incredibly high.
I gave Paymon, the second guard I'd met, a wide, welcoming smile.
"Did Paymon want to meet Aileen, too?"
"You're asking the obvious."
"Aileen wanted to see you lots and lots, too!"
*Hug.*
I threw my arms around Paymon's legs.
Paymon flinched and started to back away, but seeing me hugging his calves, he froze in place.
In that instant, Mesis yelped and started speaking frantically.
"Wait, Paymon. Remember that the Young Lady is hugging your legs right now."
"I know. I'm trying to be careful."
"...Huh?"
*Rumble.*
At the same time, I sank into the ground.
I stared blankly at the collapsed patch of grass.
If this were the first time something like this had happened, I would have been very surprised, but with everything I'd seen and experienced, it wasn't all that shocking.
*Plink. Plink.*
I lifted one foot, and clumps of dirt fell from the top of my sandal.
I calmly pulled my foot out.
"...Young Lady, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
It seemed Mesis was the one who was more surprised. He had been frozen stiff, but now he rushed over, his face pale.
"Mhm. I'm okay. I'm not huwt."
Mesis let out a sigh of relief when I nodded to show I was fine.
Still, he couldn't seem to relax and checked my legs all over.
I stared up at the frozen Paymon.
He must have been really surprised by the sudden hug. For the ground to cave in...
"Paymon."
"Ah... yes."
"Aileen is sowwy for suwpwising you."
At my apology, Paymon, who had been silent, suddenly covered his eyes with both hands.
He stepped back, peeked at me, and then let out a deep sigh.
His troubled gaze wandered aimlessly. Soon, Paymon called out to Mesis in a low voice.
"Mesis. This is impossible."
"No. Hold it in."
"Did you see it from the front? Did you see how adorably the Young Lady was walking just now?"
"I told you, you can't go around breaking everything like you did at the border."
It was a conversation that revealed what Paymon was usually like.
I took another look at Paymon.
His dark brown hair, like melted chocolate, and his deep green eyes gave him an endlessly gentle aura.
But to think he actually went around violently breaking things. It was hard to imagine.
"I'm sorry, Lady Aileen. I'll be more careful from now on."
"It's okay. You don't do it all the time."
"Well..."
Paymon, who was crouching down and patting the hole in the lawn closed, trailed off.
His brow furrowed slightly.
It was as if he was recalling his past.
"It's hard to say, since I never had to control my strength at the border. ...Not all the time, but sometimes? When I'm in a good mood, or a bad one, or when I'm flustered."
Listening to him list the situations one by one, it sounded like it happened almost every day.
I decided to keep my distance from him.
Mesis clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"As you can see, this is why we can't all come at once."
"...Mhm. I think I get it."
"Thank you for understanding."
It would be a problem if situations like that kept happening.
Feeling that quite a bit of time had passed, I walked over to where the picnic blanket was.
Mesis and Paymon followed behind me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I neatly took off my sandals and plopped down. It was about time for me to do my homework.
I brought over my bag from the side and took out a notebook and pencil case, and the two of them watched with interest.
Mesis asked.
"What are you doing? Are you not going to swing anymore?"
"Mhm. Aileen is going to study now."
"...Study?"
"Kasana gave me homewowk today, so I have to finish it. If I don't, Kasana will be upset."
I opened my notebook and began tracing the words one by one.
Mesis and Paymon stayed by my side quietly until I finished my homework.
"All done!"
"Oh, are you learning words already?"
"Mhm."
"That's amazing."
"Since I'm done, Aileen is going to have a snack."
I was hungry from concentrating so hard. Though I probably hadn't been at it for very long.
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a snack container.
Pointing at the container, Paymon asked.
"Is that your snack?"
"That's wight. This is Aileen's snack."
"...Is that all?"
"The Young Lady can't eat much. You saw last time."
"That's true, but..."
When I opened the snack container, a sweet aroma wafted out.
Crackers topped with adorable little fruits were revealed. I picked up the palm-sized crackers one by one and handed them out.
You're supposed to share things like this, after all!
"I'll give you one each. Have some."